Transmission circuit and ultrasound diagnosis apparatus

Abstract

A transmission circuit according to an embodiment includes: a plurality of constant current circuits, a plurality of switching elements, and controlling circuitry. The plurality of constant current circuits are connected in parallel to a power source line connected to a single power source and a transducer element. Each of the plurality of switching elements is connected to a different one of the plurality of constant current circuits and to the transducer element. The controlling circuitry is configured to control the plurality of switching elements on the basis of a waveform signal indicating a waveform of an ultrasound wave output from the transducer element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transmission circuit comprising:
 a plurality of constant current circuits connected in parallel to a power source line connected to a single power source and a transducer element; 
 a plurality of switching elements each of which is connected to a different one of the plurality of constant current circuits and to the transducer element; and 
 controlling circuitry configured to control the plurality of switching elements on a basis of a waveform signal indicating a waveform of an ultrasound wave output from the transducer element. 
 
     
     
       2. The transmission circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the plurality of switching elements is configured to set an electrical connection state between a corresponding one of the plurality of constant current circuits and the transducer element to be in one selected from between a first state in which the corresponding one of the plurality of constant current circuits is electrically connected to the transducer element and a second state in which a connection between the corresponding one of the plurality of constant current circuits and the transducer element is electrically blocked, and 
 on the basis of the waveform signal, the controlling circuitry causes each of the plurality of switching elements to set the connection state between the corresponding one of the plurality of constant current circuits and the transducer element to be in the one of the first and the second states. 
 
     
     
       3. The transmission circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein the controlling circuitry causes the connection state to be set in the one of the first and the second states so that an ultrasound wave having the waveform indicated by the waveform signal is transmitted from the transducer element in a cycle of the waveform indicated by the waveform signal. 
     
     
       4. The transmission circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a plurality of constant current values output from the plurality of constant current circuits is different from other values. 
     
     
       5. The transmission circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein a quantity of the plurality of constant current circuits is a smallest quantity among quantities of the constant current circuits capable of causing the waveform indicated by the waveform signal to be output from the transducer element. 
     
     
       6. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus that includes a transmission circuit comprising:
 a plurality of constant current circuits connected in parallel to a power source line connected to a single power source and a transducer element; 
 a plurality of switching elements each of which is connected to a different one of the plurality of constant current circuits and to the transducer element; and 
 controlling circuitry configured to control the plurality of switching elements on a basis of a waveform signal indicating a waveform of an ultrasound wave output from the transducer element.